Industrial Pipe Bookshelf

Only 3 more days until Christmas!!!!  Admittedly I am equally counting down to spending time with family as I am to having a real break from my day job.  I haven't taken more than 2 days off for over a year so I am really really looking forward to a bit of an extended stay-cation.  As we count down to the holidays, I am also wrapping up some overdue flip debuts before getting ready to start rolling out new pieces in the new year.  

Remember my industrial sawhorse desk?  Well when the buyer came to pick it up last fall, it turns out she didn't need the 3-drawer hutch since she planned to float the desk in her office.  So she bought the desk, chair and lamp, and left the orphaned hutch drawers behind so I took the opportunity to play around with a new take on industrial-inspired storage.

Industrial Pipe Bookshelf

I re-re-used the drawers to make a 3-tiered bookshelf with loads of storage.

I drilled two holes through the front and back of each drawer and threaded a section of galvanized pipe through.  Each dovetailed drawer hangs level and secure by resting on pipe coupling at one end and a heavy-duty wall bracket at the other.

The staggered heights provide visual interest while allowing space for art or plants.

I tested the weight limits of the unit myself by literally loading up every flat surface with all of our hardcover books.

At the top, a small section of pipe also secures to the wall for more stability. 

And another flange at the base can be secured to the floor too.

The entire length of pipe disassembles easily into 4 sections for transporting. 

You could even swing out the middle drawer and mount the whole unit into a corner for even more versatility.

I would love to see this baby go to a cool loft or some other city space!  If you are interested in this piece or a custom order like it, please email cate@stylemutthome.com.

Industrial Pipe Bookshelf
Now Available for Sale
63"W x 7.5"D x 78"H
$395

As we gather together this Christmas, Chelsea and I pray that your holiday is filled to the brim with treasured family time.  We hope that the hustle and bustle will fade away and we'll all be able to truly savor the real reason for the season.  Merry Christmas to you all!

Gray MCM Tallboy

It's T-Minus 5 days to Christmas and I gotta ask: does anyone else have visions of furniture dancing in your head?  I can't tell you how many times I have asked Caleb for furniture for my Christmas/ birthday/ justbecauseitstuesday present.  This year, I'm hoping he'll approve setting aside funds for a headboard.  Or a new armchair.  Or another plant stand.  (I know: I'm trouble).

The good news is, if you are hankering for home decor that doesn't exactly fit under the tree, StyleMutt Home has some handsome new pieces in the garage shop!

In all my pre-Christmas dreaming, I stumbled across this dashing (albeit pricey) devil.  There's no way I'd be willing to pay such a steep asking price, but I was inspired nonetheless.  So when I first saw this chipped white & gold dresser on Craigslist, my wheels started turning.

Source: Dwell Studios

Pretty close to the inspiration yes?  

Inspired by the double-breasted pulls of the inspiration piece, I added whistle pulls that match the brass-capped tapered legs.  The greige color was a custom mix using some leftover paint from our Navy Yard Condo client.  (Waste not, want not!) 

Although it looks like 5, this piece actually has only 4 dovetailed drawers - one is a faux double-front with extra deep storage for bulky sweaters and such.

And on the underside of the drawers, you can find the original maker's mark.  Apparently this fellow is Swedish!  

The styling for this piece was especially fun.  I really felt like I was channeling my inner Urban Outfitter with the colorful art and moon phase chalkboard.

But the best part is this white and gold cactus by GoodNight Light.

Yeah, you heard right - that cactus lights up!

It is safe to leave on for hours at a time and made of a shatterproof vinyl which, to my surprise, feels more like a matte porcelain in person!  It would of course be adorable (and safe!) in a nursery (one day ;) but for now it's the perfect light to leave on for Thor since we're not getting home before sunset on these short winter days.

If you are still looking for a last-minute gift for any little-ones on your list, I highly recommend browsing the quirky inventory at GoodNight Light to see if any of their quality products pique your interest. 

And if you are local and looking for an affordable MCM tallboy (for you or anyone else on your list ;) this one is in our shop!

Gray MCM Tallboy
Now Available for Sale
36"W x 18"D x 43.5"H
$345

If you're interested in this gray & gold Swed (or a custom order like him), please email cate@stylemutthome.com.

Reader Design: Amy's Inspired Family Home

If you've been paying attention, you know it's been a busy week over here at StyleMutt Home! We're ringing in the holidays with holiday tours, fantastic flips, and, of course, a home feature with an Insta #mustfollow.

Cue Amy, a small business owner and mom from Massachusetts. Amy's home takes a lot of its inspirations from blogs and social media - and with her creative, professional photographer eye, she executes to perfection. 

Amy, her husband, their three kids, and two dogs moved in to this Dedham, MA home in August and since then, it's become the ultimate family home. They've taken a big home - with six fireplaces... I mean, c'mon - and made it intentional, with each space serving a special purpose. Take the living spaces - it's actually one long room that is an easy design stump for many people (oh to have the problem of too much space!), half of which is a neutral haven and the other half of which is alive with color. 

This room alone is a perfect illustration of Amy's spoken style.
From Amy:

“My style is a combination of simplicity and bold splashes of color. I love a modern look with mid-century lines. While finding a style that is truly mine, I realized my house reflects my photography. Clean and bold.”

Amy is also a MAKER . 

“I have a slight obsession with textiles. I like to change my throw pillows like some people change their socks. I have a hard time spending a ton on a pillow. Some I found on Etsy, but all of the mudcloth and shibori pillows, I made out of Ikea shams! For the mudcloth look, it just took a little fabric paint & a ruler!”

Amy definitely believes in budgeting, but not at the expense of style!  

“I can honestly tell you that everything in my home is completely accessible to anyone on any budget! All it takes is an imagination and some elbow grease. I find nothing more satisfying than creating something beautiful with little to no money. Anyone can decorate a house with an unlimited budget, but creating a gorgeous space on a dime is a labor of love. ”

Her family moved into this Colonial to be closer to school back in August, but kept their original home as a summer escape - and just about every room proves there's a way to save! ... Every room except the wallpapered powder room, which Amy's son insisted he could have replicated with only a Sharpie. Anyone brave enough to take on that challenge??  

Now, she did let him use that creativity in this amazing comfy & cozy living room! 

“I feel like I have kind of mastered Ikea-chic. My 11 year old son is very creative and loves projects. He and I found all sorts of Ikea hacks on Pinterest and we went to town. His proudest piece is the mid-century TV console in the family room. He made it himself from 2 Ikea cabinets, pretty pegs legs, and some pine boards that he carefully measured and stained.”

Now for the kitchen - that was a splurge area, but with something so classic, why not spend a little to make it great? 

The master bedroom, with its dressing room complete with a fireplace, and guestroom both feature some of Amy's favorite pieces. 

“I knew I wanted a MASSIVE round mirror in the house. I love this one [in the bedroom] from CB2. The bench is a knock off of the Herman Miller Nelson bench, the pillows are DIY mudcloth, and the blanket is one that I made myself with thick thick wool and needles the size of my arms! ”

In the guest bedroom, the statements are those pair of prints from Etsy, which Amy was able to print professionally thanks to her photography business! I don't know anyone who wouldn't be tempted to longgggg overstay their welcome in this space.

Amy, how you pulled off this home in just four months is beyond comprehension; thank you so much for inviting us in! 

Follow Amy along on Instagram or on her site. And guess what?! If you can't get enough of her pooches, Charlie and Chloe, you can follow them along on Instagram too. If today isn't a win-win-win, I don't know what is!